100% of all donations go directly to the cause

Why I started KAT:

I was inspired to start the Kenya Action Trust after a recent visit to Kenya. During my time there, I saw first-hand the urgent need for support in areas that many of us take for granted—access to basic education and to healthcare, especially for young women. I met girls who were using torn cloth and sponges to manage their periods because they simply couldn’t afford proper sanitary products, and who were missing up to 150 days of school over four years because of it. Parents cannot afford to send their children to school as the school fees - which were recently reintroduced by the Kenyan Government, and other costs - kept piling up. It was hard to see how much these challenges were holding back kids who just wanted a chance to learn and thrive.

I am returning to Kenya in the summer of 2025, funded by my own savings, and volunteering to work in the local medical clinic and with a local partner charity, Kicheche Community Trust. I am writing to you to invite you to give to Kenya Action Trust. Every dollar of your donation will go to direct aid. Your dollars will go a long way; a donation of $150 could cover a year’s worth of tuition for a child. A donation of $30 is enough to provide proper sanitary products for a girl for a year, enabling her to stay in school during her periods and get equitable and full access to education.

By partnering with Kicheche Community Trust - who have permanent, Kenyan staff on the ground who are able to properly vet potential recipients, and who also commit to all funds going to direct aid - I will be able to ensure that every dollar donated makes a real, tangible impact in the communities and families that need it most.

Your support would be literally life changing, giving Kenyan youth access to education and health resources to build a brighter future. Thank you so much for considering this opportunity to make a difference. You can learn more about the challenges for children in Kenya below.

The Challenge:

In Kenya, the annual cost of education for a child can range from $100 to $500. For many families, this expense is overwhelming. While education is mandatory, it is not free, placing immense pressure on parents who risk legal repercussions if they fail to send their children to school. Some schools enforce strict policies, barring students from attending until all fees are paid, which further exacerbates the burden on vulnerable families.

Moreover, parents are frequently required to contribute funds for teacher salaries, classroom supplies, and even essential furnishings. The newly introduced Competency-Based Curriculum (CBC) has added to these financial challenges, as parents are now responsible for covering salaries, educational materials, and extracurricular activity fees. A recent conversation with a father from Kenya highlighted for me the relentless cycle of new fees and the struggle to ensure his children receive a quality education.

The Health Crisis:

In tandem with school fee barriers, many teenage girls face a critical lack of access to proper health and sanitary products. This issue forces countless girls to miss school during their menstrual cycles due to inadequate supplies. Research indicates that girls from low-income families miss up to 20% of school days each year because they lack access to sanitary towels.

According to data from the Ministry of Education, a girl who misses just four days of school each month loses 13 learning days, equivalent to two weeks of instruction per term. Over an academic year, this translates to a staggering loss of 39 school days. For girls in primary school, this equates to losing up to 18 weeks of education, while those in high school can lose as much as 156 days over four years.

Nearly half of all school-age girls in Kenya don’t have access to sanitary products, with one in ten girls in Sub-Saharan Africa missing school during their menstrual cycle. The stigma surrounding menstruation compounds these challenges, often leading girls to feel ashamed or “unclean.” This can result in a heightened risk of rights violations, such as child marriage, as girls are forced to stay home from school.

Tragically, many girls resort to using unhygienic materials—such as torn cloth or sponge—to manage their menstrual flow, which can lead to infections, psychological distress, and poor academic performance. The lack of access to sanitary products not only compromises their health but also significantly undermines their educational opportunities.

Our Mission:

In response to these urgent challenges, KAT, in collaboration with the Kicheche Community Trust, aims to provide comprehensive solutions that enhance access to education and healthcare for Kenya’s youth. KAT will be actively involved with the Kicheche Community Trust in person, ensuring that funds are allocated in the most impactful manner by personally visiting and working with schools in Kenya.

100% of the donations for the education of primary students in Kenya will be utilized to sponsor the tuition of children throughout their education and support their parents with any additional fees that may arise.

100% of the contributions aimed at improving menstrual health in remote Kenya will be directed towards providing sanitary products and education on reproductive health.

How your donations will impact Kenyan youth:

A year of school supplies for a primary school student: Ksh 15,000 ($100).

A year of supplies for a full primary class (40 students): Ksh 600,000 ($4,000).

A year of tuition for a primary student: Ksh 25,000-30,000 ($165-$200).

A new school uniform: Ksh 13,000 ($90).

A year’s salary for a primary school teacher: Ksh 300,000 ($2,000).

Sanitary supplies: A reusable kit (lasting up to 6 months) costs $10, or $30 for a year. Disposable kits cost about Ksh 3,600 ($24) annually, but we advocate for reusable kits for long-term sustainability.

Finally,

We leverage the established base of the Kicheche Community Trust to identify schools and communities that require support and aid. Your support will enable us to fund essential educational resources, healthcare services, and vital sanitary products for girls, ensuring they can attend school without disruption and achieve their full potential.

Thank you.